One of the things I've kept an eye on in the last few years is stats that reflect public perception of the media. One of the last reports I read about, I think it was called the Edelson Report, reported that in Canada at least 55% of the public does not trust the information distributed by media, and probably more specifically mainstream media. Given my social experiences with people, I think that's probably a conservative estimate, but it is a notable percentage. In Canada, this may be at least partly attributed to the fact that the present Prime Minister now has near total control of all mainstream media, although Justin would probably prefer the word 'subsidized'.
They don't even really try to hide it; in a newspaper today, at the end of several articles there was this itty-bitty italicized writing that said
'The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government'. So Justin paid them to say it. It's pretty well Soviet era level, of the Pravda variety. Still, for awhile there was a little more trust in local news, but that appears to have eroded as well. I think, in a nutshell, a large number of people in both Canada and the US no longer believe something just because it makes it's way onto a published graph, or newspaper, or magazine or news channel. The stats point to people becoming much more selective of what sources they go to for information and news. The internet has helped with this, given the proliferation of platforms and options. 'Trusted news source' is a bit of a misnomer.
I had an experience recently which brought home for me some of this in a more direct way. It was a bit of a window into the situation of things, and I don't need to refer to any statistics, even Edelson's, because it was an experience. I thought is was rather interesting, so I thought I'd post about it.
I'm a freedom rally gal, or what some would call 'a protester'. Specifically, I protest peacefully with other like-minded people against vaccine passports, medical coercion and medical apartied. There are regular freedom rallies held in my town, weekly. I've only just started attending them as I wanted to be sure they were safe for my kids, and also it is really hard to find out about them because the internet is scrubbed of any meet information immediately. The narrative I've heard thus far in any and all media about such protests, is that it's a small number of protesters, we prevent people from accessing healthcare services, we stress out nurses and other health professionals with our presence near hospitals, we are disruptors and interuptors. I could go on, but that is the gist of it. It's reliably repetitve.
The 1st last rally I went to was picked up by the local media, CBC. This can often turn into national news. (The 2nd one they didn't , too many people present). They ran all the above info I listed. Yes, we were in front of a hospital, but still far away from it on a busy street. What they didn't say is so ridiculous it borders on tragic comedy. I can see why they lie. This is what they didn't tell anybody in the news clip they ran, along with the story. That the rally was organized by local nurses! Yes, they were there in number, and I stood next to and spoke with many of them. Of all ages, some starting out, some had been working for decades. Many of them have lost all faith in the health system. The whole situation was a great awakening for them. There were teachers there too I spoke with, who could not abide with mobile vaccine clinics entering the schools without parents present, who would prefer losing their job than cooperating with medical tyranny and any risk to children's lives.
They didn't talk about or show the hundreds of cars that sat on their horns for a full half minute as they passed to show support, all the hands out the window with a thumbs up moving wildly up and down in the air. It was clear pretty quickly that we had absolutely overwhelming public support. I was actually quite surprised. This has been a union town for decades. Yes, there were a few who yelled and cursed from their cars, or put up as many middle fingers as they had. Mostly young people. The rare ones who really were concerned about public safety, put their cars in park in the middle of 5 lane rush hour traffic to get out and scream aggressively at everyone - the nurses, the elderly and the many small kids who were there with their families. Me thinks those ones were not much concerned with the health care workers. Also surprising, is the police obviously had clear order to protect us/the nurses - afraid possibly of having martyrs created. Their presence was palpable. The support from bus drivers, truck drivers, government workers in government vehicles, new canadians and seniors was staggering and consistent.
They also didn't mention the hospital staff, still wearing their scrubs, coming out with their own signs, on their lunch hour, to stand in solidarity with us instead of eating. That they want to be protected too, to have the freedom to decide for themselves and their own body. This is an overlooked demographic - the health care workers themselves who don't want the shot. The most common signs there were 'my body my choice' (and we all know where that one comes from). The recent situation in NY health workers seems to attest to this. There were people from all walks of life there, Mennonites, people from the reserves, French Canadians, young and old, families, single men and women.
The media 'reported' we blocked ambulances. 100% false. Never even saw an ambulance, They said we prevented cars from entering the hospital. 100% false. That we were very few in number. 100% false. That we were stressing out the health care workers, at least partly false. The entrance was a half kilometre from where we were, from the building they couldn't even see us. Staff was joining us. The pictures they took were so Pravda propagandised - always the edge of the line along the roadway where the group was more dispersed to de-incentivize anyone who might see our numbers and popularity want to join us. They took pictures of people with technology to catch them in a yawn or sneeze so they looked scary. It was all actually very funny to read the write up and see their video. All framed up so to be as misleading as possible. So, if there was every any doubt. The media lies. Big time. This whole thing has gone Soviet era, fast.
It was the best home school I ever gave my kids, given this period in human history, to have them read the internet media articles about the rally. The looks of shock on their faces! They will never trust mainstream media in their lifetime! Object lesson!
But I respect and honour the rights of others to have opinions different than my own. I cherish it in fact, because it means freedom is alive.
academic.oup.com
ig.ft.com
khn.org
www.healthychildren.org
